My 16 months daughter is very fond of my 3 and half years old labradoodle Butter. He is big guy @ 85lbs. She always give him whatever she eats. Butter is always following her around she has food in her hand.
Another thing worries us a bit more, my daughter often try to pull his fur, steps on his leg and drag his tail. Butter is not happy about all these harassment, he mostly would run away, and/or make some kind of noise in his throat. Sometimes, he even barks or yelps in pain. We always try to stop her when she does these. What is the better to stop her from doing this? How can we make Butter understand she do not mean any harm?

Perhaps you can help your child to learn to be more gentle. If your dog is "yelping", it is a clear sign that he/she is feeling pain. The low grumbling sound coming from the dog's throat is a warning sign. Wanting your dog to understand that this type of rough contact is OK, seems futile to me, it just doesn't make sense... When you see your young child about to touch the dog, intervene before it happens, and physically show her how to be more gentle. Your child will learn from your example, but you have to be the teacher in this scenario.

If the rough contact continues, it is highly likely that your dog will decide he's had enough, and bite. Nobody wants this to happen.

__________________
On the ragged edge of the world
I'll roam.
And the home of the wolf
Will be my home.
-Robert N. Service

One thing for sure. If you do not teach you daughter how to be gentle with your dog the dog will bite. It won't be Butter's fault. It will be yours for not teaching your daughter the proper etiquette with dogs. Unfortunately a big dog can do lots of damage with it's teeth to a small child.
At 16 months your daughter is old enough to know the word NO! I would be using it.
Teach her to be gentle when she is petting. If she goes to pull fur tell her NO and take her away from the dog.
If she steps on Butter's leg tell her NO and take her away from the dog. If she is pulling Butter's tail tell her NO and take her away. Please do not ever leave her alone with Butter. Not even for a minute. Tragic accidents can happen quickly.
When she is on the floor near Butter you need to be on the floor too. That is a great time to be teaching her how to be gentle. Please do not let her feed her food to Butter. Butter may grab for food sometime when it is too near your daughter's mouth and inadvertently nip your daughter's face.
You need to be stern with your daughter. Butter is only reacting to pain as any dog would.

__________________
Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me.

We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD!

Last edited by 14+kitties; May 24th, 2010 at 02:04 PM.
Reason: Added some info and fixed dog's name

Thank you all for your suggestions.
Actually, I have been doing what you guys have suggested. I always watch my daughter's interaction with Butter very closely. Whenever she approach him, I'd go over and pat or scratch butter gently, and let her do the same with butter. I have to make my wife and other people do the same.

I agree with the others that you and your wife really need to crack down on your daughter. Sadly as it happens often, if you don't teach the baby, the dog will bite and end up being destroyed. Certainly the safety of your child is top most important, but you owe it to Butter to ensure that your failure to teach the child correct manners does not cost him his life. He's just a dog, as the baby is just a baby. Constant, continual dilligence and persistence is required here.